Business is an incredible force for good. When business leaders of good character and good will seek to serve their customers and team, wealth is created and everyone is better off.

Beyond basic ethical practices, there are many ways in which prioritizing the needs of the community—and people in poverty—can be good for business. It builds trust with customers, goodwill with city leaders, and unlocks market segments not otherwise available.

Yet, Scripture is not content with that level of goodness. 1 Tim 6:18 calls all of us to “do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” In addition to the good inherent in mutual benefit, there is also a commandment to give in a way that requires meaningful sacrifice. Many leaders have already taken this command to heart as regards their personal time and money, but it should also extend to the way they steward the teams and companies they lead. Ultimately, we concern ourselves with the needs of the vulnerable not because it’s convenient, but because it is our duty and privilege.

Furthermore, to achieve that level of good, business leaders have important tools at their disposal that are less available to the philanthropic sector. Using those tools can transform individuals and make a substantial improvement in the communities in which you do business.

Just as some charities and church programs are more successful than others, some impact-conscious business approaches have higher poverty-allevation ROI than others. Here are eight to consider:

As in most endeavors, who you know is important to success. Chances are your community has some programs that are helping people develop past immediate crisis relief. Look for ones that challenge people to be part of their own solutions, build deep relationships, and report outcomes. Explore this resource for more vetting tips.

One quick way to develop partnerships is to award a few grants to nonprofits known for their impact. While you can keep it simple and donate periodically, you can also build a competitive grant program. A straightforward application and annual approval process would provide more information about the nonprofits in your community. An ideal program would include your employees’ input in some aspects of the decision.

Even if an in-kind donation of your core product doesn’t make sense, your support team (marketing, finance, HR, etc.) can almost certainly offer useful services or guidance to a small nonprofit. And your senior leadership may be able to help with strategic planning, fundraising, and outcomes measurement. While it’s important to respect charity leaders’ expertise, a few hours of your parallel know-how can add real value. Also consider how True Charity Network resources might benefit a nonprofit you’d like to help.

Once you’ve identified highimpact nonprofits, you can coach your team to support them with their talent and treasure. Prime the pump by providing employees with paid time for worthwhile pro bono projects and by matching employee donations. You could keep the program fully open ended, or restrict it to your preferred partners. If you restrict options, be careful not to compel religious activity—which you can avoid by creating choice and ensuring you include an option for non faith-based partners.

Turn your company into a launchpad for overlooked talent. People with limited skills or connections need someone to take a chance on them. For best results, partner with a development-focused nonprofit and take referrals for employment with people they believe are most invested in personal growth. Continue to work with the referring partner to support the new team member’s integration and adjustment to their role. Don’t forget you may be able to provide internships, apprenticeships, and contracts to people you want to support but can’t bring onto your payroll.

Help them upskill and develop their character even if it doesn’t seem immediately relevant to your bottom line. Offer programs for development like mentorship and personal financial management education, especially for people with limited workforce experience. This can stabilize them economically and may help break cycles of generational poverty. It also helps mature your whole team into people who give back to their communities.

Situational poverty can be the result of a medical condition or family circumstance that quickly leads to job loss. While your legal obligations may be minimal, you should support them through difficult circumstances to the best of your ability—or help them find other employment more suitable for their situation. Loyalty to your team is likely to be repaid with loyalty from your team.

Use your connections and clout to create business for yourself and a business-friendly environment for others. Use your inside knowledge to identify legal barriers that make life harder for entry-level workers and entrepreneurs. Engage community leaders to address those barriers. See this policy playbook for simple, non-partisan solutions that will help.

While the charitable sector often occupies the spotlight in poverty alleviation, the reality is for-profit businesses have an order of magnitude more resources to steward. When business leaders share God’s heart for the poor, those resources can unlock a new world of possibilities for those in need.